| NAME | |
|---|---|
| Chinese Name | 关定, 關定, Guān Dìng |
| Nickname | Guan Ping's father; Guan Yu's same-surname host |
| Other name | Quan Định |
| INFORMATION | |
| Death Reason | Fictional character |
| CAREER | |
| Allegiance | None (civilian) |
| Battles |
|
Biography & Historical Record
Guan Ding (关定, Quan Định) — the novel writes the surname with the character 关 (Guan, same as Guan Yu), not 管 — is a wholly fictional farmer-elder in Luo Guanzhong’s romance. He shares Guan Yu’s surname and shelters the general during the long march back to Liu Bei. His household becomes the setting where Guan Yu meets and adopts Guan Ping (关平, Quan Bình), one of the most enduring additions to Guan Yu’s legend. No historical Guan Ding appears in Sanguozhi.
Do not confuse this character with the Wei scholar Guan Ning (管宁, Quản Trữ) or with Guan Ding’s elder son Guan Ning (关宁, Quan Ninh) — a student who stays on the farm while Guan Ping rides to war.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Chapter 28 (Guan Yu Slays Cai Yang; Brothers Reunite at Gucheng): After leaving Cao Cao’s service, Guan Yu travels with Sun Qian toward Runan. He shelters at Guan Ding’s farm during a storm, introduces himself, and learns that the old man shares his surname. Guan Ding’s sons are Guan Ning (student) and Guan Ping (soldier). Guan Ding offers his younger son to serve in Guan Yu’s train; Guan Yu accepts Guan Ping as an adopted son. When Liu Bei sends Sun Qian to fetch Guan Yu from Yuan Shao’s territory, the brothers reunite at Guan Ding’s farm before marching to Gucheng with the new adoptee.
Guan Ding (关定) — Historical & Literary Timeline
Chapter 28
Shelter in the storm
Guan Yu and Sun Qian take refuge at Guan Ding’s farm; the host recognizes Guan Yu by reputation and lodges the party generously.
Chapter 28 (same arc)
Guan Ping offered
Guan Ding presents his younger son Guan Ping; Guan Yu agrees to adopt him as a warrior companion on the road.
Chapter 28 (same arc)
Brothers reunite at the farm
Liu Bei, Sun Qian, and Jian Yong arrive; Guan Yu and Liu Bei embrace at Guan Ding’s gate before departing with Guan Ping.
Chapter 28 (aftermath)
Guan Ping enters legend
Guan Ping follows Guan Yu to Gucheng and later campaigns — Guan Ding’s gift permanently enlarges the Guan Yu household in fiction.
For detailed historical records, archives, and official chronicles, explore fictional Three Kingdoms characters on Wikipedia.
Key Relationships
Family
- Son Guan Ping (关平, Quan Bình): Adopted by Guan Yu; becomes his constant companion in later campaigns.
- Son Guan Ning (关宁, Quan Ninh): Elder brother who remains a student on the farm (not the scholar Guan Ning 管宁).
Friends
- Guan Yu (关羽, Quan Vũ): Same-surname host whom Guan Ding feeds and to whom he entrusts Guan Ping.
- Liu Bei (刘备, Lưu Bị): Reunited with Guan Yu at the farm; Guan Ping styles him “Uncle.”
Enemies
- No named enemies; a peaceful farmer host.
Other
- Sun Qian (孙乾, Tôn Càn): Travels with Guan Yu and arranges the Runan reunion.
- Guo Chang (郭常, Quách Thường): Another elderly host Guan Yu meets in the same chapter arc while sheltering from rain — separate farm, separate subplot.
- Zhou Cang (周仓, Chu Tàng): Joins Guan Yu’s party shortly after leaving Guan Ding’s farm.
In Novel
Chapter 28
- Guan Ding (关定, Quan Định): Hosts Guan Yu during a storm; says his sons are Guan Ning the student and Guan Ping the soldier, and offers Guan Ping to serve in Guan Yu's train — "Would you take him?" Guan Yu accepts the boy as an adopted son.
In History
Summary
- Guan Ding (关定, Quan Định) is a fictional farmer in Chapter 28; Guan Ping has no historical biography as Guan Yu's son.
Historical Record
- Not in Sanguozhi. Guan Ping and Guan Ding belong to Luo Guanzhong's expansion of Guan Yu's family romance.
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